For thousands of years, African medicine was not just a means of survival—it was a way of life. It was a holistic approach that intertwined the physical, spiritual, and communal aspects of existence. Our ancestors understood that healing was more than just treating symptoms; it was about maintaining balance within oneself and with the natural world. But all of that was stripped away when colonial powers arrived. They didn’t just loot our land and resources—they targeted our very ability to heal ourselves. They took away our traditional knowledge, suppressed our practices, and in their place, they made us dependent on their systems. This was no accident. The same forces that robbed us of our land also sought to make us dependent on a system that was designed to keep us weak, sick, and under control.

The great irony is this: the very people who dismantled our healing traditions are the ones who designed the modern medical systems that have disproportionately harmed us. Western medicine, imposed on us by colonial powers, has not only failed to address the root causes of illness in our communities but has perpetuated the very conditions that make us sick. To break free from this system, we must reclaim the knowledge and power that was taken from us. By liberating ourselves from the oppression of white supremacy, we can finally begin to live healthier, more empowered lives.

A System Designed to Control: The Weaponization of Medicine

The erasure of African medicine was not just a byproduct of colonization—it was a deliberate strategy of control. European powers knew that by taking away our ability to heal ourselves, they could make us reliant on their systems. Western medicine was presented as the only legitimate form of healthcare, while African healing traditions were dismissed as “primitive” or “superstitious.” But what was the true motive behind this erasure?

White supremacy is built on the foundation of control—control over land, resources, people, and knowledge. By imposing Western medicine and dismantling traditional healing practices, colonial powers ensured that we would be dependent on their medical systems. But this was never about health. This was about control.

The same systems that took away our medicine are the systems that created the conditions in which Black people are disproportionately sick. They built environments of poverty, pollution, and stress—designed to keep us in a constant state of survival. The conditions that make Black communities more susceptible to chronic illnesses like heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure are not natural; they were engineered. The medical system we were forced to depend on was never designed to heal us—it was designed to maintain control.

The Irony of Dependency: How Oppression Has Made Us Sick

Here’s the great irony: they took away our medicine, forced us to rely on their systems, and then designed those very systems to keep us ill. Western medicine, while it has made advances in certain areas, often focuses on treating symptoms rather than addressing the root causes of illness. But for Black communities, the root cause is clear—oppression.

The 400 years of slavery, followed by decades of systemic racism, segregation, and economic disenfranchisement, have left Black communities in states of perpetual vulnerability. The chronic stress of living in a system that devalues Black lives has a direct impact on health. Stress, trauma, poor living conditions, and lack of access to healthy food have all contributed to the disproportionate levels of illness in Black communities. The very system that claims to heal us is the one that created the conditions that make us sick.

Western medicine, with its transactional approach, provides band-aid solutions. We are given pills to treat our high blood pressure, but not the tools to address the systemic racism and stress that caused it. We are prescribed medications for diabetes, but not given access to fresh, healthy food in our neighborhoods. The irony is that the system that took away our ability to heal ourselves has set us up to fail—and then profits off of our illness.

Reclaiming Our Power: African Medicine as Liberation

To liberate ourselves from this system, we must first reclaim what was taken from us—our ability to heal. African medicine is not just about physical health; it is about balance, harmony, and community. Our ancestors understood that true health comes from addressing the whole person—mind, body, and spirit. They used the natural world around them to create remedies that could heal not just the symptoms of illness, but the root causes. Herbs like moringa, baobab, and bitter kola were used not just for their physical properties, but because they were part of a larger spiritual and communal practice of healing.

But Western medicine has removed that balance. It treats the body like a machine—broken parts to be fixed, rather than a living, breathing system that requires balance. It has made us dependent on pills and treatments that do little to address the underlying issues of stress, trauma, and disconnection that plague Black communities.

Reclaiming African medicine is not just about returning to traditional remedies—it is about reclaiming our autonomy. It is about rejecting the systems of white supremacy that have profited off of our pain and reconnecting with the wisdom of our ancestors. By returning to African healing practices, we can begin to heal not just our bodies, but our communities and spirits.

Liberation Through Healing: Breaking the Cycle of Dependence

Liberating ourselves from the oppressive systems of white supremacy is the first step toward living healthier lives. The current medical system was designed to keep us dependent, to treat our illnesses without ever addressing the systemic causes. But African medicine offers a path toward true liberation. By embracing our traditional healing practices, we can begin to break the cycle of dependency and take control of our own health.

African medicine teaches us that healing is a communal act—that the health of one is tied to the health of all. It reminds us that we are part of a larger ecosystem, and that our well-being depends on our connection to nature, to our communities, and to our ancestors. By embracing this holistic approach, we can begin to undo the damage that white supremacy has inflicted on our bodies and minds.

We must also recognize that health is a form of resistance. In a system that profits from our illness, choosing to reclaim our health is a radical act. By liberating ourselves from the systems that were designed to oppress us, we can create new systems that uplift us—systems that prioritize balance, harmony, and the well-being of all.

Healing as a Path to Freedom

The medical system we have been forced to rely on was never designed to heal us. It was designed to control us, to keep us dependent, and to profit from our suffering. But by reclaiming African medicine, we can begin to liberate ourselves from this system. We can reject the notion that Western medicine is the only valid form of healthcare and embrace the wisdom of our ancestors.

Healing is not just a physical process—it is a spiritual and communal one. By returning to African medicine, we are not just healing our bodies—we are healing the wounds of oppression. We are reclaiming our power, our autonomy, and our dignity. And in doing so, we are creating a future in which Black bodies, minds, and spirits can thrive.

The irony is clear: the very system that took away our ability to heal is the same system that created the conditions for our suffering. But we can break free from that system. By embracing African medicine, we can liberate ourselves from the chains of white supremacy and live healthier, more empowered lives. Are you conscious?